Tasting at Lake's Folly with Peter Payard and Roger Patterson

Lake's Folly, Hunter Valley, Australia
Tasted Saturday, July 9, 2016 by CamWheeler with 416 views

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2015 Lake's Folly Chardonnay 89 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Flour, lemon, quite toasty on the nose. Rich fruit upfront on the palate, there is good texture but no doubt that the fruit and the oak grabs most of the attention here.

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  • 2015 Lake's Folly Chardonnay Hill Block 92 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley, Pokolbin

    Sulfur, straw, spice, oats and a nice steely mineral element. I really like the push and drive on the palate, it is more bright and mineral driven than the "regular" Chardonnay, as a result having more spark, drive and interest for me.

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Flight 2 (4 Notes)

  • 1972 Lake's Folly Cabernet Sauvignon 85 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Autumn leaves, meaty, smoke, some herbs and iodine. The fruit is fading on the palate but there is still a line of spice and the structure is just holding on to let this be drinkable but it is still past its best, based on this one bottle. Still well worth trying.

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  • 1988 Lake's Folly Cabernet 92 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Charcoal, cassis, leather and spice with a background of mixed herbs. Lovely elegant style, it has light fruit while still retaining a sense of depth. On one hand seems to have quite a classic Cabernet feel, but the restraint and lightness of the palate might have some thinking mature Pinot noir. Really quite appealing and a great outcome from a weak vintage.

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  • 1989 Lake's Folly Cabernet 94 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Some light earthy and spicy brett notes that add the right kind of extra complexity in this case, along with black cherry and blackberry. Intense, with the fruit concentration contributing to there overall youthful feel. Really fine tannins are ingrained well with the savoury fruit. Has great texture and layered depth. In the zone for drinking but good bottles will hold for quite a few more years. One of the best bottles of Lake's Folly that I've tried.

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  • 1993 Lake's Folly Cabernets Reserve 90 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Tar, charcoal, cedar and chocolate on the nose. Youthful fruit, has a sweet element and on its own it seems to have a bit of power, but next to the 94 reserve it actually feels relatively light. Still good tannins holding up the structure. Will age further over the next 5-7 years.

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Flight 3 (1 Note)

  • 1994 Lake's Folly Cabernets Reserve 92 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Meaty, graphite, violet and blood form a nose with good interest. Mouth-filling fruit and tannins here, with the fruit having a extra level of depth next to the 93 reserve. Really interesting texture and a lift from good acidity across its length. This wine has been very good to great across the 3-4 bottles I've had and this was on the upper end of that scale.

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Flight 4 (4 Notes)

  • 1996 Lake's Folly Cabernets 93 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Leather and earthy spice, tobacco and cherry with extra some light green herbal notes adding an extra dimension without dominating. Really quite refined on the palate, this has beautiful balance and structure. Well on its way to hitting its peak, but with plenty on time on its side as well. Just as good as the last bottle I tried of this, if not a touch better.

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  • 1997 Lake's Folly Cabernets 88 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Nose is a little shy at first, some chocolate, raspberry and ash with time and extensive swirling. The palate also feels a little hard to approach, with some up and down fruit not always keeping up with the tannins. Overall it feels a little awkward and I think it might be of benefit to give it few years to see if it comes together.

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  • 2005 Lake's Folly Cabernets 91 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Earth, violets, chalky minerality and some background oak. Palate has an enjoyable mix of sweet red fruits, spicy oak and some punchy acidity. Obviously young but rather enjoyable and has all the components to be even more rewarding with age. This was in a much better spot than a bottle about 3 years ago, so might be starting to open back up.

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  • 2009 Lake's Folly Cabernets 90 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Inky colored. Toasty oak, graphite, violets and redcurrant. The palate is medium weighted with good fruit purity and good length, but it also feels like it is starting to shut down, so it is probably time to put this away for a good 4-5 years before revisiting.

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Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Lake's Folly Cabernets 91 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Some salami, violet, spice and musk aromas. Fruit feels quite savory and restrained on the palate with good acidity giving it a needed lift. Consistent balance across its good length. Still early days for this wine but it really should come together well if given time.

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  • 2011 Lake's Folly Cabernets 93 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Every time that I try this wine I wonder why I didn't buy more. Graphite, cherry, spice, raspberry and redcurrants. Bright red fruit drives the flavor profile, there is power there but also a great deal of poise and class. Lovely and very appealing, this is probably in the prime spot for drinking in its youthful stage now before it shuts down and needs time in the cellar. Cracking young Cabernet.

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Flight 6 (3 Notes)

  • 2014 Lake's Folly Cabernets 93 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Wine known but closure blind. Revealed as cork sealed after tasting. Raspberry, blueberry and cherry, lifted and pretty nose that also has a touch of earth to it. Palate is youthful and vibrant, while having some well weighted tannins giving it structure. Should be excellent with time.

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  • 2014 Lake's Folly Cabernets 93 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Wine known but closure blind. Revealed as screwcap sealed after tasting. A touch brighter than the already pretty cork sealed version, with an extra high toned floral and red fruit level. Tight, with clean acid and pure fruit. While in the minority, I just slightly preferred this bottle even with the cork sealed wine being a little softer.

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  • 2015 Lake's Folly Cabernets 90 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Blind. Tank sample. Lifted nose with florals, raspberry and a herbal streak that is in balance at this time. The lightest fruit weight of the 11/14/15 wines, it is still clean and bright with some of the herb notes in the background. Probably not a super long term Lake's Folly, but given some of the weaker old vintages we tried, it might prove me wrong!

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Flight 7 (1 Note)

  • 1963 Lake's Folly Madeira 88 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    A curio that was put in casks in 1963 to commemorate the planting of the Lake's folly vineyard and bottled in 1975 - even putting the historical aspect aside, it still has interest and it's legitimately drinkable. Brown sugar, Christmas pudding, sultana and raisin with a VA lift. Medium sweetness remains, and that VA element does lift it up nicely. A treat to try this and very pleasing that it is holding up relatively well.

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Flight 8 (1 Note)

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